Topic Editors

Department of Tourism Management, College of Business Administration, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
Prof. Dr. Jellna Chung
Department of Global Hotel Management, Endicott College, Woosong University, Daejeon 34606, Republic of Korea
Dr. Tulsi Paudel
Department of Tourism and Recreation, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung City 833, Taiwan

Rethinking Future Studies in Tourism and Hospitality: Critical Insights and Paradigm Shifts for a New Era

Abstract submission deadline
31 October 2025
Manuscript submission deadline
31 December 2025
Viewed by
1933

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

The future of tourism and hospitality is increasingly shaped by a wide range of complex factors, including environmental concerns, technological disruptions, shifting consumer values, and growing social responsibilities. As the world undergoes rapid transformation, the need to rethink the foundations of tourism and hospitality has become more urgent than ever before.

Thus, this Topic invites scholars to critically examine how the future of the industry can be envisioned and shaped in ways that are more inclusive, ethical, and sustainable. It particularly encourages convergent and interdisciplinary perspectives that integrate insights from diverse domains such as sociology, environmental science, business, technology, cultural studies, and design.

Key areas of focus include not only the climate crisis and carbon neutrality but also the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging technologies such as AI and automation; the growing significance of ethical, value-driven consumption; and the increasing diversity of consumer needs and expectations in travel behavior.

This Topic also welcomes contributions that challenge and expand traditional tourism concepts, calling for interdisciplinary approaches that draw from fields such as sociology, philosophy, technology, business, and environmental studies.

As tourism continues to evolve, there is a clear need to explore how it can align more closely with ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles and contribute not only to economic growth but also to social inclusion, cultural sensitivity, and community well-being.

By rethinking the future through ecological, technological, ethical, social, and economic lenses, this Topic aims to inspire new paradigms and practices that will shape tourism and hospitality as a field, an industry, and a driver of positive change.

Topics of Interest

  • Critical approaches to future studies in tourism and hospitality;
  • Sustainable and regenerative tourism futures;
  • Carbon-neutral tourism and climate-conscious strategies;
  • AI, automation, and technology’s impact on tourism labor and experience;
  • Interdisciplinarity and convergence;
  • Ethical consumption and value-driven travel;
  • Shifting consumer behaviors, values, and lifestyle trends;
  • Interdisciplinary methodologies for future scenario planning;
  • Tourism through ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) frameworks.

Prof. Dr. Yeong Gug Kim
Prof. Dr. Jellna Chung
Dr. Tulsi Paudel
Topic Editors

Keywords

  • sustainable tourism
  • ethical consumption
  • ESG (environmental, social, and governance)
  • development and application of technology
  • interdisciplinary research
  • value-driven travel
  • critical tourism studies

Participating Journals

Journal Name Impact Factor CiteScore Launched Year First Decision (median) APC
Administrative Sciences
admsci
3.1 5.6 2011 27.7 Days CHF 1600 Submit
Businesses
businesses
- - 2021 33.8 Days CHF 1000 Submit
Societies
societies
1.6 3.0 2011 34.4 Days CHF 1400 Submit
Sustainability
sustainability
3.3 7.7 2009 19.3 Days CHF 2400 Submit
Tourism and Hospitality
tourismhosp
- 3.7 2020 17.6 Days CHF 1200 Submit

Preprints.org is a multidisciplinary platform offering a preprint service designed to facilitate the early sharing of your research. It supports and empowers your research journey from the very beginning.

MDPI Topics is collaborating with Preprints.org and has established a direct connection between MDPI journals and the platform. Authors are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity by posting their preprints at Preprints.org prior to publication:

  1. Share your research immediately: disseminate your ideas prior to publication and establish priority for your work.
  2. Safeguard your intellectual contribution: Protect your ideas with a time-stamped preprint that serves as proof of your research timeline.
  3. Boost visibility and impact: Increase the reach and influence of your research by making it accessible to a global audience.
  4. Gain early feedback: Receive valuable input and insights from peers before submitting to a journal.
  5. Ensure broad indexing: Web of Science (Preprint Citation Index), Google Scholar, Crossref, SHARE, PrePubMed, Scilit and Europe PMC.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Journals
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
20 pages, 323 KiB  
Article
Didactic and Pedagogical Aspects of Tourism Training Programs in Portugal: Conceptual Analysis of Study Plans
by Gonçalo Maia Marques
Tour. Hosp. 2025, 6(3), 138; https://doi.org/10.3390/tourhosp6030138 - 12 Jul 2025
Viewed by 248
Abstract
Higher education in tourism plays a pivotal role in the development of the tourism sector in Portugal—one of the country’s most vital economic pillars. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the adoption of innovative teaching methodologies by higher education institutions, [...] Read more.
Higher education in tourism plays a pivotal role in the development of the tourism sector in Portugal—one of the country’s most vital economic pillars. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the adoption of innovative teaching methodologies by higher education institutions, aiming to foster more dynamic and student-centered learning environments. This article analyzes, through a qualitative approach grounded in educational and social science research, the main pedagogical and didactic strategies employed in leading tourism programs across Portugal. Drawing on a content analysis of curricular unit descriptions and all relevant public pedagogical information available on official institutional websites, this study provides a critical overview of current didactic practices. Finally, the research reflects on the degree to which innovative teaching and research practices are integrated and discusses their alignment with recognized international standards and best practices. This study contributes to bridging a significant research gap by systematically linking pedagogical practice in Portuguese tourism programs with global educational standards. Full article
23 pages, 3053 KiB  
Review
A Bibliometric Analysis of Service Quality in the Hospitality Industry (2014–2024)
by Olakunle Shakur Olawuyi and Carina Kleynhans
Adm. Sci. 2025, 15(6), 215; https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15060215 - 30 May 2025
Viewed by 1226
Abstract
Service quality is important for the survival of all businesses, including the hospitality business. Service quality can be measured by a model referred to as SERVQUAL, which comprises five parameters, namely, tangibility, reliability, assurance, empathy, and responsiveness. It is very important to examine [...] Read more.
Service quality is important for the survival of all businesses, including the hospitality business. Service quality can be measured by a model referred to as SERVQUAL, which comprises five parameters, namely, tangibility, reliability, assurance, empathy, and responsiveness. It is very important to examine publications to ascertain trends in service quality in the hospitality industry during the previous decade (2014–2024). Data were collected from the Scopus database, the article search having yielded 876 documents. The eligibility criteria were as follows: papers had to be published between 2014 and 2024, had to be written in English, and were restricted to articles, conference papers, book chapters, and review papers. The collected data were analyzed with the biblioshiny package in RStudio. The results revealed that the journal with the highest number of articles published during the period under study was Sustainability (Switzerland). Hong Kong Polytechnic was the institution with the highest number of publications vis-à-vis service quality in the hospitality industry, followed by Bina Nusantara University and Eastern Mediterranean University. It is notable that customer satisfaction featured prominently in different clusters, which emphasizes the fact that service quality is targeted at satisfying customers. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop